Hot off the Press — First-Ever Academic Publication on Climate Cafés Released by Wellness Impact Lab 

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Published on June 30, 2025

The Wellness Impact Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research is proud to announce its first major academic publication: “Climate Cafés as a Space for Navigating Climate Emotions: A Scoping Review”, published in the Journal of Climate Change and Health. 

This groundbreaking study marks a significant milestone — it is the first peer-reviewed journal article to systematically review evidence on Climate Cafés, a growing community-based approach to addressing the emotional impacts of the climate crisis. Authored by Anna (Andy) De Jong (DI Research Assistant), Susan Harris (DI Community Fellow), Dr. Christy Costanian (DI Adjunct Faculty), and Dr. Harvey Skinner (DI Senior Fellow), the publication underscores the Wellness Impact Lab’s commitment to mental wellness and community resilience in the face of climate change. 

As climate change intensifies — bringing with it floods, wildfires, and rising eco-distress  — the psychological toll is becoming harder to ignore. Climate Cafés have emerged as safe, informal spaces where people can gather to express their fears, hopes, and frustrations about the climate crisis in a supportive environment.  

The review, which examined literature from 2015 to 2024, found no academic studies meeting inclusion criteria but uncovered 41 relevant grey literature sources. These described Climate Cafés as flexible and community-driven, often reducing participants' sense of isolation and increasing emotional resilience. However, the review also identified key challenges, including barriers to participation among marginalized communities and a lack of standardized evaluation tools. 

“This publication is an important first step in bridging the gap between practice and research,” says co-author Dr. Harvey Skinner, professor emeritus of Psychology and Global Health. “We hope it encourages further study and investment in Climate Cafés as an important mental health resource.” 

At the Wellness Impact Lab, Climate Cafés are central to our mission: healing ourselves, healing others, healing our world. These sessions — co-facilitated and open to all —offer space to explore the emotional dimensions of climate change, cultivate hope, build community and support for climate action. 

To read the full article, visit: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100466 
To learn more about our work at the Wellness Impact Lab or join an upcoming Climate Café visit: www.wellnessimpactlab.com 

De Jong, Anna, Harris, Susan, Costanian, Christy, & Skinner, Harvey. (2025). Climate cafés as a space for navigating climate emotions: A scoping review. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 24, 100466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100466

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